GRASS LAKE, MI -- A piece of Grass Lake’s history returned to the village recently.

The original safe from the train depot was donated to the Whistlestop Park Association on Sept. 26 after spending more than 35 years in Jackson.

“The safe is a neat piece of history,” said Mike Fensler, vice president of the Whistlestop Park Association. “I like it when authentic items can come home to their original building.”

Located in the depot since it was first built in 1887, the safe was purchased in 1975 by collector Dr. Thomas Slater.

Slater opened a dentist office in Grass Lake in 1967 but moved his practice to Jackson two years later. Despite leaving the village, Slater has fond memories of Grass Lake.

“Grass Lake was not a place. It was a state of mind,” Slater said.

When Slater purchased the safe more than three decades ago, he paid $35 for it. Shortly after buying the safe, he had it restored. Slater moved to Jackson in 1976, and the safe has been in the basement of his home since.

Two years ago, Slater approached the Whistlestop Park Association about donating the safe. However, due to the expected expense of moving it, the association wasn’t able to obtain the safe. Earlier this year, an individual came forward and offered to pay for any expenses accrued during the process of moving the safe from the basement of Slater’s home to the depot.

“I’ve enjoyed (the safe) for 37 years and thought it belonged at the depot,” Slater said.

Phelps Towing took on the three-plus-hour challenge of moving the 900-pound safe out of Slater’s basement. The towing business donated the wrecker and labor for the job.

“(Having the safe at the depot) is good for the community,” said Dave Phelps, president of Phelps Towing.

When the depot burned down in 1980, all of the original items inside were ruined. Since then, the Whistlestop Park Association has obtained two other items that were original to the depot: a wood mantle and a heating stove.

“There are so many things missing (from the depot),” Fensler said. “Everything that was there originally is important. There aren’t very many of those things because of the fire. (The safe) is an important part of the depot’s history.”